Background: It is not known whether hospital outcomes are different among patients with deafness/mutism compared to those without this disability. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical outcomes and utilization data among patients with deafness/mutism compared to all other patients.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Nationwide Inpatient Sample year 2017, hospitalized adults with and without deafness/mutism were evaluated. Multiple logistic and linear regression was used to study in-hospital outcomes.
Results: 30,401,117 adults were hospitalized in 2017, and 7,180 had deafness/mutism. Patients with deafness/mutism were older (mean age ± SEM: 59.2±0.51 vs. 57.9±0.09 years, p=0.01), and less likely female (47.0% vs 57.7%, p <0.01). Those with deafness/mutism had more comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity score ≥ 3: 31.2% vs 27.8%, p <0.01). Mortality was higher in patients with deafness/mutism (3.6% vs 2.2%; p<0.01); this translated into higher adjusted odds of mortality (adjusted Odds Ratio {aOR} = 1.7. [Confidence Interval (CI) 1.3-2.4]; p= 0.01). Patients with this disability also had lower odds of being discharged home {aOR} =0.6, (CI) 0.55-0.73]; p <0.01. Length of stay was longer (adjusted Mean Difference {aMD} = 1.5 days CI [0.7-2.3]; p<0.01) and hospital charges were higher, but not significantly so {aMD} = $4,193 CI [-$1,935-10,322]; p=0.18, in patients with deafness/mutism.
Conclusions: Hospitalized patients who were deaf and mute had higher mortality and longer hospital stays compared to those without this condition. These results suggest that specialized attention may be warranted when deaf patients are admitted to our hospitals in hopes of reducing disparities in outcomes.